H.R. 139, Springfield Race Riot Study Act

Summary

H.R. 139 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a special resource study of the site of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois. As part of that study, the NPS would evaluate the area’s national significance, determine the feasibility of designating the area as an NPS unit, and consider alternatives to designating it as an NPS unit. H.R. 139 would require the NPS to report the study results, conclusions, and recommendations to the Congress.

CBO assumes that H.R. 139 will be enacted in fiscal year 2020. Using information from the NPS about the cost of similar studies, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 139 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2020-2025 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

On February 12, 2020, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 298, a bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Springfield Race Riot site in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes, as reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on December 17, 2019. S. 298 is similar to H.R. 139 and CBO’s estimated budgetary effects are the same for both bills.